Utility vehicle

ABSTRACT

A utility vehicle equipped with a main frame for forming a framework of a chassis; a ROPS (Roll-Over Protective Structure) provided at an intermediate portion of the main frame in a front-rear direction of a body of the utility vehicle so as to enclose a cabin; a seat disposed inside the ROPS; an engine disposed under the seat; and a battery disposed under the seat and on an outside of the engine in a width direction of the utility vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a utility vehicle, particularly, to a structure for disposing a battery in a utility vehicle.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A utility vehicle is designed to travel off-road and is used for various uses as a leisure vehicle or an agricultural working vehicle.

For example, in a utility vehicle according to the conventional technology disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3754016, a battery for supplying electric power to start an engine or to operate an electrical equipment of the vehicle is disposed above a vehicle frame and below and in the neighborhood a driver's seat.

In a utility vehicle, the engine is generally mounted inside an engine room disposed under a cabin provided between front and rear wheels of the vehicle frame. Furthermore, since engine accessories, such as a starter motor and an alternator, are disposed in the neighborhood of the engine, the engine accessories are electrically connected to a battery via a power cable.

In the above-mentioned configuration, since the distance between the battery disposed on the front side in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body and the engine accessories disposed in an intermediate portion in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body is large, the length of the power cable becomes impractically long. As the length of the power cable becomes longer, more time and labor are required to handle the power cable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been devised in view of the above-mentioned problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a structure for disposing a battery in a utility vehicle so as to be capable of shortening the length of a power cable for electrically connecting the battery to engine accessories in which large current flows.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a utility vehicle equipped with main frames for forming a framework of a chassis; a ROPS (Roll-Over Protective Structure) provided at an intermediate portion of the main frame in the front-rear direction of a body of the vehicle so as to enclose a cabin; a seat disposed inside the ROPS; an engine disposed under the seat; and a battery disposed under the seat and on the outside of the engine in the width direction of the vehicle.

(1) With configurations according to the present invention, since the engine and the battery are disposed under the same seat, the length of the power cable can be shortened.

(2) Since the battery is disposed under the rear seat of seats arranged in two rows, the space in the cabin can be used effectively.

(3) Since the main battery is fixed to the bottom plate using the fixing bracket, the mounting/dismounting of the main battery on/from the bottom plate is facilitated.

(4) Since the gap for drainage is provided between the main frame and the bottom plate, water accumulated on the bottom plate can be drained.

(5) Since the sub-battery is disposed behind the main battery and in the neighborhood thereof, more electric power can be supplied and the cooperation between the sub-battery and the main battery is facilitated.

(6) Since the battery is disposed inside the storage box, the battery can be placed in the clean environment.

(7) Since the control unit for performing current control between the sub-battery and the main battery is disposed inside the storage box, the control unit can be placed in the clean environment.

(8) Since the storage box has sealability, the storage box can be placed in the cleaner environment.

(9) Since the lower end of the second support pillar is bent into the nearly L shape, the mounting/dismounting of the second support pillar on/from the bottom plate is facilitated and the rotation of the second support pillar can be prevented.

(10) Since the first support pillar has the nearly U shape angular in cross-section in the horizontal direction, the mechanical strength of the first support pillar can be improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a utility vehicle according to the present invention, seen from the obliquely right front thereof;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing internal structures of a storage box and an engine room in the utility vehicle;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a front cover and an upper cover are removed from the storage box, seen downward from the obliquely right front;

FIG. 4 is a right side view showing the storage box;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the storage box shown in FIG. 4, seen from the obliquely right front;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which a lid is removed from the box body, seen from the obliquely right front;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing bottom portions of the storage box and the engine room, seen upward from the obliquely right front;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a bottom plate of the storage box and a peripheral area thereof, seen upward from the obliquely right rear;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a battery fixing structure inside the storage box, seen downward from the obliquely right front;

FIG. 10 is a right side view showing a main portion of the storage box;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on line XI-XI of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken on line XII-XII of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a modification in which a sub-battery is mounted, seen downward from the obliquely right front; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the modification shown in FIG. 13, seen downward from the obliquely right rear.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below referring to the drawings. The front-rear direction, the left-right direction and the up-down direction used in this specification are the directions seen from a driver riding in a utility vehicle 1.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the utility vehicle 1 according to the present invention, seen from the obliquely right front thereof. The utility vehicle 1 is designed mainly to travel not only on grasslands, gravelly areas, and sandy areas, but also on off-roads, such as unpaved mountain roads and forest roads, muddy tracks, and rocky areas.

(Overall Structure of the Utility Vehicle 1)

The overall structure of the utility vehicle 1 will be described referring to FIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, the utility vehicle 1 is a four-wheeled vehicle equipped with a pair of left and right front wheels 3 at a front portion of a vehicle frame 10 and also equipped with a pair of left and right rear wheels 4 at a rear portion of the vehicle frame 10. The utility vehicle 1 is equipped with a cabin 5 enclosed with a cabin frame, i.e., a ROPS (Roll-Over Protective Structure) 6, at an intermediate portion in the front-rear direction of a vehicle body between the pair of left and right front wheels 3 and the pair of left and right rear wheels 4. A front cabin 5 f and a rear cabin 5 r are formed on the front side and the rear side of the cabin 5 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, respectively. A front seat 7 f and a rear seat 7 r allowing occupants to sit are provided in the front cabin 5 f and the rear cabin 5 r, respectively, whereby the seat 7 of the utility vehicle 1 has a two-row seat configuration. The ROPS 6 is made of round metal pipes and is formed so that front and rear portions, left and right portions and an upper portion thereof are open. A bonnet 2 is provided above the pair of left and right front wheels 3. In the space inside the bonnet 2, for example, a radiator, not shown, and other components are disposed. A steering wheel and a dashboard, not shown, are disposed at a front end portion of the front cabin 5 f in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. A loading platform 8 is provided behind the rear cabin 5 r in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body and is extended rearward from a position in the neighborhood of a rear portion of the rear seat 7 r above the pair of left and right rear wheels 4. A storage box 30 is disposed under the rear seat 7 r and on the right side in the width direction of the vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a top view showing a state in which a seat portion of the rear seat 7 r (shown in FIG. 1) and an upper cover (not shown) installed under the seat portion are removed. The upper cover is a plate-like member made of metal, installed under the seat portion of the rear seat 7 r (shown in FIG. 1) and extended in the width direction of the vehicle, thereby constituting an upper face of an engine room 21 and part of an upper face of a storage space 31. The engine room 21 is provided under the rear seat 7 r and the loading platform 8 shown in FIG. 1 and at a place close to a driver's seat provided on the left side in the width direction of the vehicle. An engine 20 is disposed inside the engine room 21. A V-belt continuously variable transmission, not shown, is installed on the left side of the engine 20.

(Configuration of the Storage Space 31)

The configuration of the storage space 31 will be described referring to FIGS. 2 and 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the storage space 31 formed by the storage box 30 is provided under the rear seat 7 r (shown in FIG. 1) and on the opposite side (right side) of the engine room 21 in the width direction of the vehicle. An air cleaner 70 used as equipment, part of an air intake duct 25 for the V-belt continuously variable transmission, and a plurality of ignition coils 22 are disposed in an upper space of the storage space 31. Consequently, part of the engine room 21 and the storage space 31 are disposed under the rear seat 7 r (shown in FIG. 1) in the width direction of the vehicle.

In FIG. 2, the air cleaner 70 has a two-divided structure having a main body case 71 and an air intake case 72, and a flange of the main body case 71 and a flange of the air intake case 72 are detachably connected to each other using a plurality of clamps 73. Inside the air cleaner 70, a filter, not shown, is stored. An engine suction pipe 76 to be inserted into an engine suction pipe opening 77 b (shown in FIG. 3) is extended from the main body case 71. An engine air intake duct 74 is extended from the air intake case 72. The engine air intake duct 74 is first extended toward the outside (right side) in the width direction of the vehicle and then further extended while being bent toward the neighborhood of the ignition coils 22 disposed on the inside (left side) in the width direction of the vehicle. In addition, the air intake duct 25 for the V-belt continuously variable transmission is inserted into a transmission duct opening 77 c (shown in FIG. 13) and further extended while being bent toward the neighborhood of the ignition coils 22.

As shown in FIG. 3, in an upper space of the storage space 31, a suction opening 75 serving as a trailing end of the engine air intake duct 74 is open downward. Furthermore, a suction opening 26 serving as a trailing end of the air intake duct 25 is open downward. Hence, both the suction opening 75 of the air cleaner 70 and the suction opening 26 of the air intake duct 25 for the V-belt continuously variable transmission are disposed intensively in the storage space 31, whereby clean air is taken into the air cleaner 70 and the V-belt continuously variable transmission. Moreover, in a lower space of the storage space 31, a main battery 50 is disposed. A structure for mounting the main battery 50 will be described later in detail.

In FIG. 3, the storage space 31 and the engine room 21 are partitioned by a partitioning wall 77. The partitioning wall 77 is, for example, a plate-like member made of a rubber material. The partitioning wall 77 is provided with a plurality of openings to allow communication between the storage space 31 and the engine room 21. For example, the engine suction pipe opening 77 b and the transmission duct opening 77 c (shown in FIG. 13) are formed in the partitioning wall 77. Furthermore, an ignition cord opening 77 f for allowing the ignition cords 22 a of the ignition coils 22 shown in FIG. 2 to be inserted is formed in an upper portion of the partitioning wall 77.

(Configuration of the Storage Box 30)

The configuration of the storage box 30 will be described referring to FIGS. 4 and 5.

As shown in FIG. 4, the storage box 30 has a box shape enclosed by a box body 89 and a lid 40 and is configured so as to have sealability. The box body 89 is composed of a side cover 32, a right side portion of a front cover 33 (shown in FIG. 5), a right side portion of the upper cover (not shown), the partitioning wall 77 (shown in FIG. 3), and a bottom plate 17.

In FIG. 4, the side cover 32 has a three-dimensional shape having a first side wall 32 a, a rear wall 32 b and a second side wall 32 c and is molded with resin. The first side wall 32 a is extended from a rear end portion of the front seat 7 f (shown in FIG. 1) toward the neighborhood of a front end of the right rear wheel 4 (shown in FIG. 1) in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. The side cover 32 is mounted on a side frame 13 (shown in FIG. 8) using mounting screws 13 c that are screw-engaged with a plurality of screw holes 13 b (shown in FIG. 8) formed in an outer side face 13 a (shown in FIG. 8) of the side frame 13. At an upper portion of the first side wall 32 a, a concave portion 39 is formed so as to be opposed to a concave portion 47 formed at a lower side portion 44 b of a side wall 44 and to allow a side buckle 83 to be embedded. An upper end 36 b is formed at an upper fringe of the first side wall 32 a of the side cover 32.

In FIG. 4, the rear wall 32 b of the side cover 32 is extended rearward in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body from the first side wall 32 a of the side cover 32, thereby having a shape of covering an upper front portion of the right rear wheel 4 (shown in FIG. 1). The second side wall 32 c is extended forward in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body from an inner side end of the rear wall 32 b. In a front portion of the second side wall 32 c, two engagement through-holes 87 b passing through in the width direction of the vehicle are formed so as to be separated from each other in the up-down direction.

As shown in FIG. 5, the front cover 33 is a plate-like member made of resin, positioned under the front side of the rear seat 7 r (shown in FIG. 1) and extended in the width direction of the vehicle, thereby constituting the front portions of the storage space 31 and the engine room 21 shown in FIG. 2. Furthermore, at a nearly central portion of a right side end 35 b of the front cover 33, a concave portion 38 is formed to allow a front buckle 81 to be embedded. A left front portion 41 a of a front wall 41 of the lid 40 is equipped with an inner side end 35 a making contact with the right side end 35 b of the front cover 33. The inner side end 35 a makes contact with the right side end 35 b, thereby forming a partition line 35. Moreover, at the lid 40, the lower side portion 44 b of the side wall 44 and a right lower portion 41 c of the front wall 41 make contact with the first side wall 32 a of the side cover 32, thereby forming a partition line 36. Moreover, since the outer contour faces of the lower side portion 44 b, the right lower portion 41 c and the first side wall 32 a are flatly aligned with one another, the aesthetic appearances of the lid 40 and the side cover 32 are good and are configured as design members.

The upper cover, not shown, is a plate-like member made of metal and is positioned under the rear seat 7 r (shown in FIG. 1) and extended in the width direction of the vehicle, thereby constituting part of the upper face of the engine room 21 (shown in FIG. 2) and part of the upper face of the storage space 31 (shown in FIG. 2). In other words, the right side portion of the upper cover overlaps with the storage space 31 (shown in FIG. 2), thereby constituting part of the box body 89 (shown in FIG. 4).

(Configuration of the Lid 40)

The configuration of the lid 40 will be described referring to FIGS. 3 and 4.

The lid 40 has a three-dimensional stereoscopic shape as shown in FIG. 3 and has the front wall 41, the rear wall 42, an upper wall 43 and the side wall 44 as shown in FIG. 4. The lid 40 is molded with resin.

As shown in FIG. 3, the front wall 41 of the lid 40 is equipped with the left front portion 41 a extended in a nearly vertical direction, a right upper portion 41 b inclined rearward and the right lower portion 41 c extended in a nearly vertical direction. The left front portion 41 a of the front wall 41 of the lid 40 is equipped with two engagement protrusions 49 a separated from each other in the up-down direction at the inner side end 35 a. The engagement protrusions 49 a protrude inward (to the left side in the width direction of the vehicle).

In FIG. 3, the upper wall 43 of the lid 40 is equipped with a left upper portion 43 a extended from an upper end of the left front portion 41 a of the front wall 41 and having a stepped concave portion recessed partly and is also equipped with a right upper portion 43 b for connecting an upper end of the right upper portion 41 b of the front wall 41, an upper end of an upper side portion 44 a of the side wall 44 and an upper end of the rear wall 42. The left upper portion 43 a has an inner side end 43 d making contact with a right side end of the upper cover, not shown, at a left side end thereof. At a lower portion of the left front portion 41 a of the lid 40, a recessed handle portion 45 is provided so that the lid 40 can be held easily when the lid 40 is mounted and dismounted. At a nearly central portion of the left front portion 41 a of the front wall 41 and a left side portion thereof in the width direction of the vehicle, a concave portion 46 is formed to allow a front buckle 81 (shown in FIG. 5) to be embedded.

As shown in FIG. 4, the side wall 44 of the lid 40 is equipped with the upper side portion 44 a bent rearward from a right front end of the right upper portion 41 b (shown in FIG. 3) of the front wall 41 and extended in the nearly vertical direction and is also equipped with the lower side portion 44 b bent rearward from a right end of the right lower portion 41 c (shown in FIG. 3) of the front wall 41. At a lower portion of the lower side portion 44 b of the side wall 44 and at a nearly central portion thereof in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, a concave portion 47 is formed to allow the side buckle 83 to be embedded. Furthermore, the rear wall 42 of the lid 40 is bent inward (to the left side in the width direction of the vehicle) from a right rear end of the upper side portion 44 a of the side wall 44 and extended in the nearly vertical direction. The lower side portion 44 b of the side wall 44 is equipped with a lower side end 36 a making contact with an upper side end 36 b of the first side wall 32 a. The upper side end 36 b makes contact with the lower side end 36 a, thereby forming the partition line 36.

In FIG. 4, the rear wall 42 of the lid 40 is equipped with two hook-shaped engagement protrusions 49 c separated from each other in the up-down direction at an inner side end 37 a thereof. Each of the hook-shaped engagement protrusions 49 c has a nearly L shape. In the case that the lid 40 is mounted on the side cover 32, the inner side end 37 a of the rear wall 42 of the lid 40 makes contact with ribs 87 (shown in FIG. 6) respectively formed at an upper side end 32 e (shown in FIG. 6) of the rear wall 32 b and an outer side end 32 d (shown in FIG. 6) of the second side wall 32 c of the side cover 32, whereby the hook-shaped engagement protrusions 49 c are respectively engaged with the engagement through-holes 87 b formed in the second side wall 32 c so as to be hardly detached. The inner side end 37 a makes contact with both the outer side end 32 d (shown in FIG. 6) and the upper side end 32 e (shown in FIG. 6) of the rear wall 32 b of the side cover 32, thereby forming a partition line 37.

(Internal Configuration of the Storage Box 30)

The internal configuration of the storage box 30 will be described referring to FIGS. 6 and 9.

In FIG. 9, the storage space 31 formed inside the storage box 30 (shown in FIG. 5) has a front storage space 31 f and a rear storage space 31 r formed behind the front storage space 31 f in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. A lower side space of the front storage space 31 f is configured so that the main battery 50 (shown in FIG. 6) can be installed therein. A lower side space of the rear storage space 31 r is configured so that a sub-battery 90 (shown in FIGS. 13 and 14) can be stored as an option therein as described later. Hence, equipment such as the main battery 50 (shown in FIG. 6) stored inside the storage box 30 (shown in FIG. 5), is disposed under the rear seat 7 r (shown in FIG. 1) and on the outside (the left side in the width direction of the vehicle) of the engine 20 (shown in FIG. 2).

In addition to the engine suction pipe opening 77 b (shown in FIG. 3), an oil level gauge opening 77 a is formed in the partitioning wall 77 as shown in FIG. 6. The oil level gauge opening 77 a is configured so that part of a grip portion of an oil level gauge 28 is visible as equipment through the oil level gauge opening 77 a on the side of the storage space 31. Furthermore, a negative electrode opening 77 d and a positive electrode opening 77 e for the main battery 50 are respectively formed on the front side of the partitioning wall 77 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body.

(Engagement Structure Between the Box Body 89 and the Lid 40)

The engagement structure between the box body 89 and the lid 40 (shown in FIG. 5) will be described referring to FIG. 6.

In FIG. 6, the lid 40 (shown in FIG. 5) is configured so as to be detachable from the side cover 32 and the front cover 33. When the lid 40 (shown in FIG. 5) is removed from the box body 89, a large opening 30 a having a three-dimensional shape is formed in a right upper portion of the box body 89. Hence, it is possible to easily perform various kinds of work, such as the inspection and maintenance of the main battery 50 fixed using a fixing bracket 60, the replacement of the filter of the air cleaner 70, and the inspection of the amount of engine oil using the oil level gauge 28.

In FIG. 6, a right side end 35 b is formed at a fringe on the outside (the right side in the width direction of the vehicle) of the front cover 33, and ribs 86 respectively protruding outward (to the right side in the width direction of the vehicle) and upward from the right side end 35 b along the right side end 35 b are formed behind the right end 35 b in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. In other words, the right side end 35 b of the front cover 33 is fringed with the ribs 86. Furthermore, at the right side end 35 b of the front cover 33, engagement grooves 86 b are formed upward and downward so as to be separated from each other in the up-down direction with the concave portion 38 provided therebetween. The engagement grooves 86 b are configured so that the engagement protrusions 49 a (shown in FIG. 3) are respectively inserted into the engagement grooves 86 b when the front cover 33 is mounted on the front cover 33 as shown in FIG. 5 and when the inner side end 35 a (shown in FIG. 3) of the front wall 41 (shown in FIG. 3) makes contact with the right side end 35 b of the front cover 33.

In FIG. 6, on the inside (the left side in the width direction of the vehicle) of the upper side end 36 b of the first side wall 32 a of the side cover 32, ribs 85 respectively protruding upward from the upper side end 36 b and forward in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body along the upper side end 36 b are formed. In other words, the upper side end 36 b of the first side wall 32 a is fringed with the ribs 85. At the upper side end 36 b, two engagement grooves 85 b are formed forward and rearward in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body so as to be separated from each other with the concave portion 39 provided therebetween.

As shown in FIG. 11, the lower side portion 44 b of the side wall 44 is equipped with two engagement protrusions 49 b separated from each other in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body at the lower side end 36 a, and the engagement protrusions 49 b protrude downward. The engagement protrusions 49 b are configured so as to be respectively inserted into the engagement grooves 85 b formed in the first side wall 32 a when the lid 40 is mounted on the side cover 32 and when the lower side end 36 a of the lower side portion 44 b makes contact with the upper side end 36 b of the side cover 32.

Returning to FIG. 6, of the ribs 85 formed at the upper side end 36 b, the ribs 85 protruding upward partially have a step in the width direction of the vehicle. In other words, at each engagement groove 85 b and a peripheral area thereof, the width of the upper side end 36 b is made larger, and a recessed rib 85 a being recessed to the inside (the left side in the width direction of the vehicle) of the upper side end 36 b is formed. The lower side portion 44 b of the side wall 44 of the lid 40 shown in FIG. 4 has a stepped shape, not shown, corresponding to a stepped shape of the rib 85.

In FIG. 6, at the upper side end 32 e located in front of the rear wall 32 b, the rib 87 bent upward along a fold line in the width direction of the vehicle and protruding upward from the rear wall 32 b is formed. At the front portion of the second side wall 32 c, the rib 87 protruding to the outside (the right side in the width direction of the vehicle) is formed at the outer side end 32 d bent to the outside (the right side in the width direction of the vehicle) and extended from the second side wall 32 c to the outside (the right side in the width direction of the vehicle). Hence, in the side cover 32, the upper side end 32 e of the rear wall 32 b and the outer side end 32 d of the second side wall 32 c are fringed with the ribs 87.

Consequently, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the lid 40 is mounted on the box body 89, the inner side end 35 a, the lower side end 36 a and the inner side end 37 a of the lid 40 make contact with the right side end 35 b of the front cover 33, the upper side end 36 b of the side cover 32 and the outer side end 32 d (shown in FIG. 6), respectively, the sealability of the storage box 30 is maintained. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the partition lines 35, 36 and 37 are formed at the boundary between the left front portion 41 a of the front wall 41 and the front cover 33, at the boundary between the lower side portion 44 b of the side wall 44 and the first side wall 32 a of the side cover 32, and at the boundary between the rear wall 42 and the second side wall 32 c, respectively. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, the protruding ribs 86, 85 and 87 are formed along the partition lines 35, 36 and 37, respectively, thereby preventing water from entering the inside of the storage box 30 (shown in FIG. 4) without separately using a sealing member, such as a packing. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the lid 40 is mounted on the box body 89, the inner side end 43 d (shown in FIG. 3) of the left upper portion 43 a makes contact with the right side end of the upper cover, not shown, at the upper wall 43 of the lid 40, thereby maintaining the sealability of the storage box 30.

(Connecting and Fixing Structure Using Connecting and Fixing Members 80 and 82)

The connecting and fixing structure using connecting and fixing members 80 and 82 will be described referring to FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 5, the front buckle 81 serving as a connecting and fixing member 80 is composed of a first member having a hooking concave portion, and a second member having a hook-shaped end engagement portion engaging with the hooking concave portion, and a latch portion configured so as to have a latching state or an unlatching state. The first member is riveted in a state of being embedded in the concave portion 46, and the second member is riveted in a state of being embedded in the concave portion 38 that is opposed to the concave portion 46. The lid 40 is connected and fixed to the front cover 33 by an engagement of the end engagement portion of the second member mounted on the front cover 33 with the hooking concave portion of the first member mounted on the lid 40. Furthermore, the front buckle 81 is nearly flush with the outer contour face of the front cover 33 and the outer contour face of the lid 40 so as not to protrude from the respective outer contour faces.

Similarly, the side buckle 83 serving as a connecting and fixing member 82 is composed of a first member having a hooking concave portion, and a second member having a hook-shaped end engagement portion engaging with the hooking concave portion, and a latch portion configured so as to have a latching state or an unlatching state. The first member is riveted in a state of being embedded in the concave portion 47, and the second member is riveted in a state of being embedded in the concave portion 39 that is opposed to the concave portion 47. The lid 40 is connected and fixed to the side cover 32 by an engagement of the end engagement portion of the second member mounted on the side cover 32 with the hooking concave portion of the first member mounted on the lid 40. Furthermore, the side buckle 83 is nearly flush with the outer contour face of the side cover 32 and the outer contour face of the lid 40 so as not to protrude the respective outer contour faces.

In FIG. 5, since the lid 40 is connected and fixed to the box body 89 using the front buckle 81 and the side buckle 83, the lid 40 can be prevented from falling and the sealability of the storage box 30 can be improved. In addition, since the front buckle 81 is mounted in the concave portions 38 and 46 and since the side buckle 83 is mounted in the concave portions 39 and 47, the front buckle 81 and the side buckle 83 are configured so as to be nearly flush with the outer contour faces of the lid 40, the side cover 32 and the front cover 33 without protruding therefrom. Hence, the front buckle 81 and the side buckle 83 are hardly released, and the aesthetic appearance of the storage box 30 is good, whereby the storage box 30 is configured as a design member.

(Structure for Mounting the Bottom Plate 17 to the Vehicle Frame 10)

The structure for mounting the bottom plate 17 to the vehicle frame 10 will be described referring to FIGS. 7 and 8.

As shown in FIG. 7, the vehicle frame 10 is equipped with main frames 11 located in a lower part of the utility vehicle 1 (shown in FIG. 1) and extended in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, side frames 13 located on the outside of the main frames 11 in the width direction of the vehicle and extended in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, cross members 12 for connecting the left and right main frames 11, and cross members 14 for connecting the main frame 11 and the side frame 13. The bottom plate 17 is installed between the main frame 11 and the side frame 13 and disposed on the outside (on the right side in the width direction of the vehicle) of the engine 20.

As shown in FIG. 8, the bottom plate 17 is a plate-like member made of metal and is supported using two support arms disposed so as to be separated from each other in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. In the width direction of the vehicle, the bottom plate 17 has a flat main face 17 b which is extended in the nearly horizontal direction and on which the main battery 50, for example, is mounted, and also has an inclined face 17 c bent upward to the right so as to be inclined in the neighborhood of the side frame 13. On the front side of the main face 17 b in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, a front face 17 a rising from the main face 17 b in the nearly vertical direction is formed. The support arms 15 are angular pipes extended in the width direction of the vehicle and configured so as to follow along a shape of a bottom face of the bottom plate 17. The support arms 15 are welded and fixed to the bottom faces of the main face 17 b and the inclined face 17 c. Brackets 16 are welded to a right side face 11 a of the main frame 11. Two through holes 19 a (shown in detail in FIG. 9) are formed in the bottom plate 17 in the neighborhood of the main frame 11 and directly above the support arms 15. The bottom plate 17 is fixed to the brackets 16 by passing bolts 16 a through the through holes 19 a and through mounting holes of the support arms 15 and mounting holes of the brackets 16 and by tightening the bolts with nuts 16 b. Outside ends of the support arms 15 are welded and fixed to the left side face of the side frame 13, respectively (shown in FIG. 11).

As shown in FIG. 8, on the rear side of the main face 17 b of the bottom plate 17 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, two mounting holes 17 g are disposed so as to be separated from each other in the width direction of the vehicle. A hole 64 a is formed in the main face 17 b of the bottom plate 17 on the side of the side frame 13. A bracket 18 is welded and fixed to a lower face of the bottom plate 17 at a portion in which the hole 64 a is formed. In FIG. 8, the bracket 18 has a nearly U shape directed downward and angular in cross-section in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body and has two flanges 18 b extended in the width direction of the vehicle so as to be separated from each other in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body.

As shown in FIG. 12, a hole 18 a of the bracket 18 (shown in FIG. 8) is positioned so as to be communicated with the hole 64 a of the bottom plate 17. A second support pillar 62 has a shaft portion 62 c, a male screw portion 62 a located at an upper end of the shaft portion 62 c, and a bent portion 64 located at a lower end of the shaft portion 62 c and bent into a nearly L shape. A leading end of the bent portion 64 of the second support pillar 62 is directed toward the main frame 11. As shown in FIG. 8, a rotation of the bent portion 64 is restricted by an engagement of the bent portion 64 with the flanges 18 b of the bracket 18, whereby the flanges 18 b function as a device for stopping the rotation of the bent portion 64. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a gap 19 for drainage is formed between a left side end of the bottom plate 17 and a right side 11 a of the main frame 11 to drain water from the inside of the storage box 30.

(Structure for Mounting the Main Battery 50)

The structure for mounting the main battery 50 (shown in FIG. 6) on the bottom plate 17 will be described referring to FIG. 9.

In FIG. 9, a first support pillar 61, the second support pillar 62 and a bridge member 63 constitute the fixing bracket 60 for fixing the main battery 50 (shown in FIG. 6) to the bottom plate 17. On the main face 17 b of the bottom plate 17, the first support pillar 61 is provided on the side of the main frame 11, and the second support pillar 62 is provided on the side of the side frame 13.

The first support pillar 61 stands on and is welded to an upper face of the bottom plate 17 on the side of the front storage space 31 f and on the side of the main frame 11. The first support pillar 61 has a nearly U shape being angular in cross-section in the horizontal direction, the two flange faces of the first support pillar 61 are disposed so as to be separated from each other in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, and a support pillar face of the first support pillar 61 is disposed on the side of the side frame 13. In an upper portion of the support pillar face of the first support pillar 61, an engagement opening 65 having a nearly rectangular shape and being oblong in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body is formed. In the support pillar face of the first support pillar 61, a plurality of round holes are formed for weight reduction.

The bridge member 63 is a metallic member for connecting the first support pillar 61 to the second support pillar 62. The bridge member 63 has a nearly U shape being angular in cross-section in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body and has two flanges 63 b extended in the width direction of the vehicle so as to be separated from each other in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. A cut-out portion 63 c is formed in the bridge member 63 on the side of the main frame 11. The cut-out portion 63 c is engaged with the engagement opening 65 of the first support pillar 61. To the flange 63 b on the front side in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, a bracket 63 d for mounting a clamp 58 is welded and fixed. A hole 63 a (shown in FIG. 12) is formed in the bridge member 63 on the side of the side frame 13, and the male screw portion 62 a of the second support pillar 62 is inserted into the hole 63 a (shown in FIG. 12). A plurality of slots (not shown) for weight reduction are formed in a bridge body portion of the bridge member 63.

A cushion rubber 67 is bonded to an upper face of the main face 17 b of the bottom plate 17 using an adhesive. Furthermore, a cushion rubber 66 is bonded to a lower face of the bridge member 63 using an adhesive. The main battery 50 is held between the cushion rubber 67 bonded to the upper face of the bottom plate 17 and the cushion rubber 66 bonded to the lower face of the bridge member 63.

A power cable 54 for a negative electrode 51 (shown in FIG. 8) electrically connects the negative electrode 51 (shown in FIG. 8) of the main battery 50 (shown in FIG. 8) to a negative electrode extraction terminal 57. The power cable 54 for the negative electrode 51 (shown in FIG. 8) has a terminal 55 detachably mounted on the negative electrode 51 (shown in FIG. 8) on the side of the side frame 13 and has a round terminal 56 that is secured to the negative electrode extraction terminal 57 with a bolt on the side of the main frame 11. By the insertion of the power cable 54 for the negative electrode 51 (shown in FIG. 8) into the clamp 58 made of resin and having a nearly ring shape, a nearly intermediate portion of the power cable 54 for the negative electrode 51 (shown in FIG. 8) is supported with the clamp 58. A power cable (not shown) for a positive electrode is mounted on the positive electrode (not shown) of the main battery 50 (shown in FIG. 8), and a protection cap 53 made of an insulating resin material is mounted so as to cover the positive electrode and a terminal of the power cable for the positive electrode. The main battery 50 (shown in FIG. 8) is disposed so that the positive electrode is located on the side of the main frame 11 and so that the negative electrode 51 (shown in FIG. 8) is located on the side of the side frame 13.

In the lower side space of the front storage space 31 f, with the main battery 50 (shown in FIG. 8) placed on the main face 17 b of the bottom plate 17, the cut-out portion 63 c of the bridge member 63 is hooked to the engagement opening 65 of the first support pillar 61, and then the bent portion 64 (shown in FIG. 8) of the second support pillar 62 is positioned with respect to the bracket 18 (shown in FIG. 8). The male screw portion 62 a of the second support pillar 62 is inserted into the hole 63 a (shown in FIG. 12) of the bridge member 63, and then a nut 62 b is screw-engaged with the male screw portion 62 a and tightened, whereby the main battery 50 (shown in FIG. 8) is held between the bottom plate 17 and the bridge member 63. The lower side space of the rear storage space 31 r is configured so that the sub-battery 90 (shown in FIG. 13) can be mounted therein as an option as described later.

(Disposition of the Sub-Battery 90)

A modification in which the sub-battery 90 is mounted will be described referring to FIGS. 13 and 14.

The main battery 50 is originally mounted in the utility vehicle 1 (shown in FIG. 1). However, the utility vehicle 1 is configured so that the sub-battery 90 for supplying electric power to electrical equipment to be additionally equipped as options can be mounted. The sub-battery 90 is disposed behind the main battery 50 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body in the neighborhood of the main battery 50. Since the sub-battery 90 is an auxiliary battery for the main battery 50, an electric capacity of the sub-battery 90 is smaller than that of the main battery 50 and the sub-battery 90 is more compact than the main battery 50 in sizes, that is, length, width and height.

The sub-battery 90 is mounted in the lower side space of the rear storage space 31 r. A fixing bracket 91 for fixing the sub-battery 90 to the bottom plate 17 is composed of two left and right bolts 92 and a bridge member 93. The fixing bracket 91 is configured so that the two left and right bolts 92 are detachably mounted on the bottom plate 17.

The bridge member 93 is a member for connecting the two left and right bolts 92. The bridge member 93 has a nearly U shape being angular in cross-section in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body and has two flanges 93 b extended in the width direction of the vehicle so as to be separated from each other in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. Two holes 93 a are respectively formed in the bridge member 93 on the side of the main frame 11 and on the side of the side frame 13.

Each of the two left and right bolts 92 has a shaft portion 92 c, a male screw portion 92 a on the upper end side of the shaft portion 92 c, and a head portion 92 d (shown in FIG. 10) on the lower end side of the shaft portion 92 c. A diameter of the head portion 92 d (shown in FIG. 10) is configured so as to be larger than that of the mounting hole 17 g (shown in FIG. 8). The bridge member 93 is placed on an upper face of the sub-battery 90 so as to be extended in the width direction of the vehicle. Furthermore, the male screw portion 92 a and the shaft portion 92 c of one of the bolts 92 are inserted into the mounting hole 17 g (shown in FIG. 8) upward from below, the head portion 92 d (shown in FIG. 10) is engaged with the mounting hole 17 g (shown in FIG. 8). After the male screw portion 92 a is inserted into the hole 93 a of the bridge member 93, the male screw portion 92 a is screw-engaged with a nut 92 b. Similarly, after the other of the bolts 92 is inserted into the mounting hole 17 g of the bottom plate 17 and the hole 93 a of the bridge member 93, the male screw portion 92 a is screw-engaged with another nut 92 b. As a result, the sub-battery 90 is fixed to the bottom plate 17 via the fixing bracket 91 by tightening the two left and right bolts 92, and the sub-battery 90 is removed from the bottom plate 17 by loosening the two left and right bolts 92. In the fixing bracket 91, the left and right bolts 92 are configured so as to be detachable.

In the case that the sub-battery 90 is mounted as an option, a control unit 94 for controlling an interaction of current between the sub-battery 90 and the main battery 50 is disposed inside the storage box 30. The control unit 94 includes a controller 95 for controlling a charging/discharging and a load of the sub-battery 90, a fuse 96 for overcurrent protection, and an electromagnetic switch 97 referred to as a contactor. The sub-battery 90 is electrically connected to the main battery 50 via the control unit 94. The controller 95 is installed at an inner upper portion of the front cover 33, as shown in FIG. 14. The fuse 96 and the electromagnetic switch 97 are mounted on an upper portion of the front face 17 a of the bottom plate 17 via a bracket 96 a. In other words, with a hole 97 b of the bracket 96 a overlapping with a hole of the front face 17 a of the bottom plate 17, the bracket 96 a is secured to the front face 17 a of the bottom plate 17 using bolts and nuts, not shown. In this way, the control unit 94 is mounted at a high position in the storage space 31 so as not to be splashed with water or the like.

Since the sub-battery 90 is disposed in the neighborhood of the main battery 50 inside the storage box 30 (shown in FIG. 4), the sub-battery 90 can be maintained in a clean environment and can supply electricity to electrical equipment to be equipped additionally as options, whereby the cooperation between the main battery 50 and the sub-battery 90 can be facilitated.

As describe above, with the above-mentioned embodiments, the following can be attained:

(1) Since the engine 20 and the battery 50 are disposed under the same seat, the length of the power cable 54 can be shortened.

(2) Since the battery 50 is disposed under the rear seat 7 r of the seats arranged in two rows, the space in the cabin 5 can be used effectively.

(3) Since the main battery 50 is fixed to the bottom plate 17 using the fixing bracket 60, the mounting/dismounting of the main battery 50 on/from the bottom plate 17 is facilitated.

(4) Since the gap for drainage is provided between the main frame 11 and the bottom plate 17, water accumulated on the bottom plate 17 can be drained.

(5) Since the sub-battery 90 is disposed behind the main battery 50 and in the neighborhood thereof, more electric power can be supplied and the cooperation between the sub-battery 90 and the main battery 50 is facilitated.

(6) Since the battery 50 is disposed inside the storage box 30, the battery 50 can be placed in the clean environment.

(7) Since the control unit 94 for performing current control between the sub-battery 90 and the main battery 50 is disposed inside the storage box 30, the control unit 94 can be placed in the clean environment.

(8) Since the storage box 30 has sealability, the storage box 30 can be placed in the cleaner environment.

(9) Since the lower end of the second support pillar 62 is bent into the nearly L shape, the mounting/dismounting of the second support pillar 62 on/from the bottom plate 17 is facilitated and the rotation of the second support pillar 62 can be prevented.

(10) Since the first support pillar 61 has the nearly U shape angular in cross-section in the horizontal direction, the mechanical strength of the first support pillar 61 can be improved. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A utility vehicle comprising: a main frame for forming a framework of a chassis, a ROPS provided at an intermediate portion of the main frame in a front-rear direction of a body of the utility vehicle so as to enclose a cabin, a seat disposed inside the ROPS, an engine disposed under the seat, a storage box disposed under the seat and on an outside of the engine in a width direction of the utility vehicle, and a main battery disposed inside a storage space of the storage box, wherein the storage space has a rear storage space with a lower side space in which a sub-battery is aligned behind the main battery in the front-rear direction of the body of the utility vehicle, and an upper space in which an air cleaner is disposed over the main battery and the sub-battery.
 2. The utility vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the seat is a rear seat, and is arranged with a front seat in two rows.
 3. The utility vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the main battery is placed on a bottom plate installed between the main frame and a side frame extended in parallel with the main frame, and the main battery is fixed to the bottom plate using a fixing bracket comprising a first support pillar fixed to the bottom plate on a side of the main frame, a second support pillar detachably mounted on the bottom plate on a side of the side frame, and a bridge member for connecting the first support pillar to the second support pillar.
 4. The utility vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the bottom plate is mounted on the main frame via stays, and a gap for drainage is provided between the main frame and the bottom plate.
 5. The utility vehicle according to claim 3, wherein a lower end of the second support pillar is bent into an L-shape.
 6. The utility vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the first support pillar has a U-shape angular in cross-section in a horizontal direction.
 7. The utility vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a control unit for performing current control between the main battery and the sub-battery is disposed inside the storage box.
 8. The utility vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the storage box has sealability.
 9. The utility vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the sub-battery is coplanar with the main battery.
 10. The utility vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the sub-battery is more compact in size than the main battery.
 11. The utility vehicle according to claim 1, wherein an electric capacity of the sub-battery is smaller an electric capacity of the main battery. 